KRG Event: Kurdistan Thanks Veterans

Kurdistan Regional Government Representation in the United States, Washington, D.C.

Special Invitation to U.S. Veterans Who Served in Iraq

The Kurdistan Regional Government Representation in the United States invites you to join us in thanking US veterans involved in military and humanitarian operations in support of the people of Kurdistan and Iraq.

When:

Thursday, July 30, 2015

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Where:

KRG Representation in the US

1532 16th St NW

Washington, DC

Confirmed speakers to include

H.E. Falah Mustafa Bakir, Head of KRG Department of Foreign Relations

LTG (Retired) Michael Barbero

Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, KRG Representative to the US

The event will mark the 24th anniversary of the end of Operation Provide Comfort I, and the start of Operation Provide Comfort II. It will be an opportunity to thank all US military personnel involved in operations in Iraq.

Light refreshments will be served. Dress is business casual.

About US Military in Kurdistan

Following his defeat in Kuwait in 1991, Saddam Hussein turned his attention north to crush the Kurdish Uprising. With the horrors of genocide still fresh in their minds, millions of Kurds fled into the mountains toward Turkey and Iran where they languished without food, water or proper supplies.

To alleviate this humanitarian crisis, on 6 April 1991 the US and a coalition of international partners initiated Operation Provide Comfort, to bring emergency aid and protection to millions of people. The No-Fly Zone enforced by US and coalition aircraft north of the 36th parallel continued through Provide Comfort II for several years. The creation of this safe haven allowed Kurdistan's first ever free elections to be held in 1992, leading to the creation of the Kurdistan National Assembly and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Over the past decades, the US military and the people of Kurdistan have stood together against the forces of tyranny and terrorism, including against the regime of Saddam Hussein, al-Qaeda, and today ISIS.

The Kurdistan Regional Government Representation in the United States invites veterans of all military operations in Iraq to join us as we thank them for their service and sacrifice.